You can stay home if you like—after all, that’s what a “staycation” is, in the strictest sense of the word. But if all you want is a breather from the rigors and routine of life, enjoy a pocket of respite in the very same place international corporate travelers call their home away from home.

While its primary market ranges from FITs—or frequent individual travelers—to long-staying travelers working within Ortigas’ bustling business district, Discovery Suites is also a favorite destination among families looking for a little R&R on weekends.

Imagine your own home, only a hundred times better, when you spend your Saturday and Sunday at this serviced apartment owned and operated by the same homegrown company behind Tagaytay’s Country Suites and Boracay’s award-winning Discovery Shores.

Boasting large, fully furnished junior, one-, two- and three-bedroom suites, each with a complete kitchenette, Discovery Suites also has a slew of five-star hotel amenities at your disposal—a fitness club, pool and spa, for starters.

Still, for the short-term guests and the longest-staying resident on record (an international executive and his wife who lived in Discovery Suites for 10 years), it’s the feeling of belonging that appeals to them the most.

No red carpet necessary: instead, expect thoughtful touches like a “Welcome Home” banner in your suite, additional pillows for your neck, back or leg, or finding fresh towels cleverly folded into the shape of an animal when the housekeeping team turns down your bed covers for the night.

If you’re a Discovery Suites regular, don’t be surprised to find your favorite chocolate or a framed photo of you and your significant other waiting in your room. That’s just the staff’s way of personalizing your stay, paying attention to detail.

It’s all part of a service culture instilled by Discovery Leisure Co. Inc. COO Jose C. Parreño Jr. “He’s very customer-centric. He’s always asking us, ‘What have you done for your guests today?’” says Marc de la Cruz, director of public relations. “The concept of service that’s all heart is something we encourage among our staff, not just here but in all our properties.”

Something different

Speaking of all heart, note how the staff is always ready to greet you with a smile, a slight bow of the head, and the right hand placed over the heart. “A lot of guests notice that, too,” says De la Cruz. “All hotels offer the best facilities, but we give guests something different.”

An overnight stay is enough to recharge a weary body, mind and spirit. Guests who spend the night in a one-bedroom affair (inclusive of a breakfast buffet for two at the hotel’s Restaurant 5 and WiFi Internet access in the room) can choose two of three 60-minute treatments from Discovery Suites’ Terra Wellness Spa—the invigorating Hilot Massage, the muscle-relaxing Deep-Tissue Massage, and the soothing, Swedish-inspired Terra’s Touch Signature Massage.

The Sweet Weekend package, meanwhile, was designed for those with a little more time to spare. A minimum of two nights in a junior suite, or the more spacious two- and three-bedroom suites, merits a daily breakfast at Restaurant 5, WiFi Internet access in the room, milk and cookies before bedtime, 10-percent discount on room service and a Passport To Indulgence booklet, an exclusive perk which spoils Discovery Suites guests with discounts from select retail partners.

Otherwise, anything goes for guests once they’re checked in. With at least four malls situated within walking distance of Discovery Suites, shopping is almost always must-do on staycationers’ lists.

Partying is another. For drinks, light snacks and a breathtaking view of the city skyline, there’s the Serendipity Lounge on the 22nd floor. Steps away is 22 Prime, an award-winning restaurant with a specialty steak menu and the most innovative dishes. Staff has also been known to accede to unique requests. De la Cruz recalls the time when they set up a dinner date for a couple and their “special guests”—photocopied faces of famous people attached to the backrests of chairs.

Anthony Raymond, a Filipino chef whose impressive culinary career spans over 15 years and work in the kitchens of world-class hotels and restaurants both here and abroad, is the corporate chef of all Discovery Leisure properties.

When all is said and done, simply relaxing in the comfort and privacy or your own room is still the most welcome way to spend a lazy Saturday and Sunday. From bonding with your balikbayan relatives, to catching up on your favorite TV show, soaking in the tub or doing absolutely nothing at all—whatever your fancy, you deserve it. “People work so hard, they just want to pamper themselves,” observes De la Cruz, “even for a weekend.”

For inquiries about Discovery Suites’ holiday packages, call 7198888. E-mail [email protected] or visit www.discoveryhotels-resorts.com.